Facial Protection Evaluation

Facial and mandible guards for ballistic helmets have the potential to protect against blunt impact, ballistic and blast threats. However a credible and relevant testing methodology is needed to determine their true protective capacity. The new Mandible Load Sensing Headform (MLSH) was used as the basis of a new evaluation protocol for ballistic helmet mandible guards. Ballistic helmets have traditionally protected the head from ballistic and blunt impacts but offered no protection to the face and mandible. New guards have been introduced to extend protection to these critical areas. A new test methodology was developed using an enhanced MLSH with mandible sensors for measuring load distribution and focal injury assessment as detailed in the 2014 paper...